Housing Preservation USDA Grant Public Notice 07/2025
Housing Preservation USDA Grant Public Notice 07/2025
Creative Compassion, Inc. is applying for the USDA Rural Development Housing Preservation Grant program (HPG). If awarded, the program would allow Creative Compassion to assist Cumberland County seniors with home repairs and modifications so they may inhabit their homes and age in place safely. This notice is intended to allow the public to review and submit comments regarding the proposed statement of activities detailed below.
Comments may be made:
Email: christy@ccihomes.org
Mail or in person: 20 Penny Lane, Crossville, TN 38555
Phone: 931-456-6654, ext. 100
The deadline for comments is July 18, 2025.
Statement of Activities
This will be a homeowner assistance program for home repair and home modifications necessary for seniors aged 60 years or older to successfully age in place within their own homes. Repair examples to be considered include (but not limited to) roof, heat and air conditioning, plumbing, windows, insulation, etc. Modifications for aging in place to be considered include (but not limited to) installation of grab bars, accessibility ramps, high color contrast step markers, door widening, heightened toilet seats, shower benches, and accessible showers.
The process for selecting HPG recipients will begin upon receipt of an application. Applications will be reviewed for completeness and determination of eligibility will be made based on information within the application. Creative Compassion has a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) on staff who will perform a review of each qualified household to determine necessary modifications to safely age in place, and our on-staff Construction Manager will pre-inspect the property for needed repairs and perform a post inspection to ensure work is satisfactory. Each project will meet appropriate environmental requirements. All documentation related to projects will be appropriately maintained for compliance. Creative Compassion has experience in adhering to environmental review guidelines for housing programs and will comply with the RD Instruction 1944-N and make any necessary consultation with the TN State Historic Preservation Office. Creative Compassion will use the published RD standards for existing dwelling preservation work and will abide by applicable jurisdiction codes.
This program will be completed in 12 – 24 months. Current experienced, certified, and licensed staff at Creative will determine eligible homeowners and properties, recommend necessary modifications and repair work with homeowner input, assist to obtain cost estimates from appropriately licensed and insured construction professionals, and ensure work is completed satisfactorily. The estimated number of very low – and low-income senior households aged 60 years or older to benefit from this program is 30. The area to be served with this funding is Cumberland County, Tennessee. 63% of its homes are 25+ years old, being built in 1999 or prior, and of those homes, 43% were built before 1980, indicating that a large portion of Cumberland County’s housing stock is over 45 years old. The estimated yearly budget for the entire proposed project is $300,000 per year for two years, with 85% direct project costs and 15% or less indirect administrative costs. $150,000 in HPG is the only expected source of federal funding for the total project. Various local and regional nongovernmental funding sources make up the remaining project budget. Other federal funding is not anticipated.
Creative Compassion utilizes Sage 50 accounting software to track its revenues and expenses. This is an accrual based system and is GAAP compliant. Creative Compassion evaluates program effectiveness through the analysis of program data such as beneficiary data, application advance rates, home repair and modification needs met vs unmet within the limits of the program and how those additional needs were met, quarterly reporting for overall project progress, and compliance monitoring. Sources of estimated other financial resources include Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, United Fund of Cumberland County, and several other local funding partners, including donated professional labor by a local partner agency. The estimated amount of funding we have secured or are seeking to complement the HPG funding request is approximately $450,000.00. This is not an income producing program. Disposition of security instruments held by Creative Compassion would be dissolved and assets would be distributed as outlined in our agency’s Articles of Incorporation on file with the State of Tennessee in the event of Creative Compassion’s closure.
Our housing nonprofit has been performing necessary home repairs and modifications in Cumberland County since 2009, and we have called Cumberland County home since we were founded in 1989. Our agency’s long-time service to our senior population with home repairs has given us the data necessary to recognize Cumberland County’s seniors need assistance with necessary home maintenance and modifications to successfully age in place. Creative Compassion has posted this statement of activities in its local newspaper and on its website. Outreach efforts will include social media efforts, monthly e-newsletter, speaking engagements with community groups, successful repair stories published in our local newspaper, information booth at community events, and informational flyers and application packets provided to social service partner agencies. Application process will be reasonable and will incorporate non-discrimination language according to Fair Housing Act, Title VI, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Age Discrimination Act of 1975 standards.
